There will be a retirement news conference Tuesday at Wofford College, where the Panthers are training. He is the fourth Panthers offensive lineman to retire this offseason, joining Jordan Gross, Geoff Hangartner and Jeff Byers.

The 33-year-old Wharton played in 115 games and started 111.

A third-round pick out of South Carolina in 2004, Wharton played with the Panthers until 2011 before signing as a free agent with the Bengals. He returned to Carolina last season following a slew of injuries.

Wharton tells The Associated Press that "it's time. He adds: "I thought it might have been time last year. It's just hard to just say it."

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